Nathan Jones pinpoints two things Charlton Athletic have successfully recruited: View | OneFootball

Charlton Athletic boss Nathan Jones has highlighted a couple of areas that have been strengthened ahead of next season.

Highlights

Charlton Athletic manager Nathan Jones has been discussing a few things that have improved the squad ahead of his first full season in charge.

Jones was appointed as Charlton's manager in February, after Michael Appleton had been sacked with the club just four points above the League One relegation zone.

The Welshman only lost two of his sixteen games in charge, which included a 14-game unbeaten run, as the Addicks finished 16th in the third tier - their worst result in 98 years.

The former Luton Town boss knew that this would be an important summer transfer window, as it was evident that his squad needed reinforcements all over the pitch if they wanted to compete at the top end of the League One table during the 2024/25 campaign.

Charlton have brought in seven new signings so far this summer, and Jones has spoken about a few key areas that he has been able to improve as a result of the recruitment.

Physical improvements at Charlton

Charlton have added extra quality to their squad with the signings that have been made so far this summer, after bringing in a few players from clubs in higher divisions, but they have also made the squad more physically impressive too.

Goalkeeper Will Mannion, who has joined on a free transfer from Cambridge United, gives the Addicks more of a presence between the sticks, while centre-back Alex Mitchell will make the back four more imposing after his arrival from Millwall.

Jones spoke in an interview that was posted on the club's official X account after Charlton finished their training camp in Slovenia with a friendly win against Turkish top flight side Goztepe. The Addicks' boss discussed a few things that he has been impressed with so far during pre-season.

He said: "It's not just the work you do, it's the personnel you bring in, and the size and aggression, and we have, we are a bit bigger now, a bit stronger, and have different threats now going into games, so that is a positive.

"Both goals first half came from our pressing, and the aggression we show, and then with the pace on the counter, so I am happy.

"We could have used our structure a little bit better, could have been a bit braver in possession, but that will come."

It appears as though Jones is pleased with the extra energy and work rate that his players have shown so far during pre-season compared to what he saw during the back end of last season, and recruiting some added size and aggression has helped him implement that.

Charlton tactical improvements

While the desire and energy levels seem to be improving within the Charlton squad, there also seems to be an identity growing on the pitch.

Jones implied that the high-press and speed on the counter-attack which was successful against Goztepe was much more like what he expects to see from his team.

The Addicks scored the second-fewest goals from counter-attacks in League One last season, and it seems as though Jones intends to make Charlton far more effective in that department during the 2024/25 campaign.

With extra size and aggression being brought into the side, Charlton supporters will hope that they can have a more enjoyable campaign than they did last time around in Jones' first full season in the dugout.